Ooops

I completely forgot about the math test today so I let you read your novel at a place of your choice.

Just make sure you finish page 155 for Tuesday. Bring your laptop for that class as well, please.

Homework for Tuesday

Please read up to page 155 for Tuesday, 1 February.

Words and expressions chapter 8-14 (page 63 – 105)

Translate these words/expressions into Swedish or, if you prefer, explain them in English:

By the time he had finished he had made me feel like a leper.

My mind was all jumbled up.

Emotional blackmail

I thought I'd get suspended.

You have managed to slide from very promising to below average.

Your record of unexplained absences continues to grow.

The football team went right down the drain.

The pub was really tacky inside.

You are half way through your GCSE:s.

I ain't letting society stereotype me.

I squinted up at my brother.  

Homework

Please post your response to the questions below by midnight. Be prepared to discuss your answers tomorrow in class.

Questions page 63 - 105 (Un)arranged Marriage

Please answer the following questions individually in the comments section below this post. 

1. Manny says that his father is too strict and his mother too soft. What do you think his parents' reasons are for acting the way they do?

2. Manny asks himself how he could be the cause of so much grief for his parents. Is he really worried about that, do you think? Give reasons for your answer.

3. In what ways are Lisa's parents different from Manny's?

4. Do you think it helps Manny to see that other parents can be different or does it only make him feel worse?

5. Give some examples of what Manny does to rebel against his family's values. Do you think he's doing the right thing? If not, what do you think he should do?

6. Manny's teacher is worried about his grades. What do you think a teacher should do in a situation like that?  

Scheduling issues resolved

It looks like our scheduling issues on Thursdays have been resolved. Our English class will still be 11:40 - 12:20 on Thursdays but the math class has been moved.

Check your schedule here.

Please bring your laptops this afternoon. See you then!

Reading for Tuesday: page 105

For Tuesday, 25 January, you need to finish reading up until page 105 in our novel (Un)arranged Marriage.


Also remember to bring your laptops for that class. There will be some questions for you to answer.

Today we will finish explaining the words/expressions in the post below. I will also talk to you individually about your performance so far in this course.

Words and expressions, chapter 2-7

Today we explained and translated the following:

Please translate into Swedish OR, if you prefer, explain the following in English:

An extension to the house

My extended family

It just seemed so claustrophobic

My whole world started to cave in

I had to put up with his various odours

I shrugged my shoulders

Frequent use of profanity is the sign of an inferior intellect

Whenever I showed the slightest inkling of brains

My dad walked in and belched twice

They slagged the place off

Two of Leicester's posher areas

She was wearing black combats

There's all the hassle of nicking it in the first place

Ady had put on a mock accent

A little white crop top

You're easy to wind up

My heart went haywire

I'd be dead meat if I brought a girl home

I didn't feel like a gooseberry because I was involved in the laughs

We hit it off straight away

They weren't going to lose face over it

We'd been skiving the afternoon lessons

He wouldn't let up

Today's class

In groups of 3 agree on three quotes that you find important on p 13 - 62 in the novel (Un)arranged Marriage. Discuss why these quotes are interesting/important. Summarize your discussion in writing together.

You need one laptop/group. Type your 3 quotes + your reasons for choosing these particular quotes in a comment below this post. Try to write more than just one line! Also write your names below your post.

Be prepared to talk about the quotes and your reasons for choosing them tomorrow in class.

Laptops

Reminder: Don't forget your laptops for tomorrow's class and make sure you keep up with the reading schedule, see post below.

See you guys tomorrow!

Discussion chapter 1

1. Explain what we know so far about the different family members.

2. Explain how the main character Manny/Manjit feels about himself and his family.

3. What do you think his reasons are for feeling this way?

Chapter 1 words and expressions

Today we read chapter 1 of (Un)arranged Marriage together.  For the second half of the class you got some time to read on your own.

Please make sure you know what the following words/expressions from chapter 1 mean:

All red from exertion


All she ever did was giggle.


Sister-in-law


My friends teased me.


Every joke seemed to be at my expense


..their in-laws


pissed on whiskey


in his range


they had nicked my room from me


I pulled the duvet over myself


he called me a poof


with some other lads


he'd poor out all of his prejudices


It was me who led Ady astray


it was a way of showing off


shoplifting


a prelude to my future

Reading schedule (Un)arranged Marriage

Tuesday, 18 January: Page 62

Tuesday, 25 January: Page 105

Tuesday, 1 February: Page 155

Tuesday, 8 February: Page 210

Tuesday, 15 February: Page 272
_____________________________________________________

For each English class you need to bring your novel. For Tuesdays' classes you also need to bring your laptop to be able to respond to the blog questions that I will be posting.

There will be blog posts, discussions, vocabulary and grammar exercises related to the novel.

Novel: (Un)arranged Marriage by Bali Rai

We're back!

For the upcoming weeks we will read the novel (Un)arranged Marriage by Bali Rai. Today we read the introduction to the novel together. Please bring your copy of the novel to class tomorrow. I will give you a more detailed reading schedule as soon as possible.

New blog design

I figured we could use some color for our blog since it's almost spring. What do you think?

Spring Term 2011

I hope you have had a nice holiday.

The spring term starts tomorrow. The fall schedule is still valid until Friday, 14 January.

See you tomorrow!